"Homelessness can be caused by a variety of problems. The main cause is unaffordable housing for the
poor. Secondary causes include mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse,..."

Unaffordable housing is in part the result of gentrification
of neighborhoods. It is much harder to find cold water flats
or housing by the week than previously. Mental health issues
come into play with the use of medication instead of institutionalization.
Patients who in the past would have been in-patient are
released with medication prescriptions.

"This
report focuses on the lack of affordable housing, resulting
in the use of shelters and transitional housing. Based on
a shared data collection system among shelter programs in
Ramsey County, the authors conducted this annual study of
usage trends including demographics, reasons leading to
use of shelters, length of stay, and repeated stays. The
authors state that in 2002, more than 4,000 people used
emergency shelters or transitional housing, and over 1,200
women used domestic violence shelters. The authors assert
that a lack of affordable housing continues to be a main
reason why people use shelters. The report also states that
employment/income is also a common factor in seeking shelter
(authors)."Authors:
Hendricks, S., Helmstetter, C. Title: Emergency
Shelters, Transitional Housing, and Battered Women's Shelters:
Data Collection Project Twelfth Annual Report. Source: St.
Paul, MN: Wilder Research Center,
2003. (Report: 63 pages)Available
From: Wilder Research Center, 1295 Bandana
Boulevard North, Suite 10, St. Paul, MN 55108, (651) 647-4600,

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